Equilibrium training device

ABSTRACT

An equilibrium training device mainly comprises a chassis, a crank component, a pedal and a revolving inertia auxiliary roller set. When the user stands on the pedal for rotary equilibrium training, the belt and the first/second rollers of the revolving inertia auxiliary roller set are pulled together in tune with the rotation of the flywheel, so the swinging uncertainty of the pedal in revolution could be eliminated, such that the pedal could swing smoothly via the inertia of its swinging path, thus avoiding falls due to loss of equilibrium and improving greatly the security, convenience and practicability.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO AN APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON COMPACT DISC

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a equilibrium trainingdevice, and more particularly to an innovative one which is designed toremove uncertain swinging of the pedal during inertia action of theswinging pedal.

2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98.

With the change of living patterns of the general public, their time andwillingness for regular outdoor activities declines accordingly. Forthis reason, a variety of indoor fitness equipment, such ascommonly-used treadmills, rowing machines or equilibrium trainingdevices, have been developed to simulate various outdoor sports. Thepresent invention is intended to explore how to make a breakthroughprogress based on conventional equilibrium training mechanisms.

An equilibrium training device is exclusively used for equilibriumtraining, for example, when simulating surfing. A conventionalequilibrium training device generally comprises a chassis, pedal setover the chassis and a linking mechanism set between the chassis andpedal. With use of the linking mechanism, the pedal could swing in amanner that the users could stand on the pedal to train theirequilibrium sense in tune with the controlled swinging of the pedal.Yet, as the swinging of the pedal of conventional equilibrium trainingdevice is controlled by the equilibrium action of the users, theswinging path is free of inertia and the swinging motion is ofuncertainty. Moreover, given poorer equilibrium sense of the users, itis very difficult to control the standing behavior on the pedal, leadingto possible falls or even injury. Also, the users may depress theirwillingness, resulting in lower practicability and value.

Thus, to overcome the aforementioned problems of the prior art, it wouldbe an advancement if the art to provide an improved structure that cansignificantly improve the efficacy.

Therefore, the inventor has provided the present invention ofpracticability after deliberate design and evaluation based on years ofexperience in the production, development and design of relatedproducts.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Based on the unique structure of the present invention wherein the“equilibrium training device” mainly comprises a chassis, a crankcomponent, a pedal and a revolving inertia auxiliary roller set, whenthe user stands on the pedal for rotary equilibrium training, the beltand the first/second rollers of the revolving inertia auxiliary rollerset are pulled together in tune with the rotation of the flywheel, sothe swinging uncertainty of the pedal in revolution could be eliminated,such that the pedal could swing smoothly via the inertia of its swingingpath, thus avoiding falls due to loss of equilibrium and improvinggreatly the security, convenience and practicability.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferredembodiment, it is to be understood that many other possiblemodifications and variations can be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plane view of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a status view of the present invention wherein the pedal couldswing by taking the first coupling portion as the rotary pivot.

FIG. 5 is a structural perspective view of the present invention showinganother preferred embodiment of the second coupling portion of the crankcomponent.

FIG. 6 is a status view of the present invention wherein the pedal couldswing in multiple directions.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the present invention wherein a softgasket is covered onto the surface of the pedal.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1-4 depict preferred embodiments of an equilibrium training deviceof the present invention, which, however, are provided for onlyexplanatory objective for patent claims.

Said equilibrium training device 05 comprises a chassis 10, defined intoa preset seating pattern to form at least a plurality of seatingportions 11. A pin joint portion 12 is additionally arranged on thepreset location of the chassis 10.

A crank component 20 is provided and comprises of a first couplingportion 21 and a second coupling portion 22 in displaced configuration.Of which, the first coupling portion 21 is pivoted onto the pin jointportion 12 of the chassis 10, such that the second coupling portion 22could swing by taking the first coupling portion 21 as the rotary pivot.

A pedal 30 is pivoted onto the second coupling portion 22 of the crankcomponent 20. Based on the connection between the second couplingportion 22 and the pedal 30, the pedal 30 can swing in a transversecircular revolution by at least taking the first coupling portion 21 asthe rotary pivot (indicated by arrow L1 in FIG. 4), or the pedal 30 canswing in an autorotation motion by at least taking the second couplingportion 22 as the rotary pivot.

A revolving inertia auxiliary roller set 40 is set between the chassis10 and pedal 30, comprising of at least a first roller 41, a secondroller 42, a flywheel 43 and a belt 44 wound between the first andsecond rollers 41, 42. Of which, the first roller 41 and the firstcoupling portion 21 of the crank component 20 are assembled coaxially(e.g. by welding), such that the first roller 41 could rotatesynchronously with the revolution of the pedal 30. Of which, the secondroller 42 is pivoted onto the chassis 10 at one side of the first roller41, while the flywheel 43 and the second roller 41 are assembledcoaxially. When the first roller 41 is rotated, the belt 44 is linkedwith the second roller 42 and flywheel 43, so the belt 44 and thefirst/second rollers 41, 42 are pulled together with the rotation of theflywheel 43, and the swinging path of the pedal 30 is of inertia.

Based on above-specified structure, when the user stands on the pedal 30to train their equilibrium sense (i.e. the swinging of the pedal 30 iscontrolled by the equilibrium motion of the human body), the belt 44 andthe first/second rollers 41, 42 of the revolving inertia auxiliaryroller set 40 are pulled together in tune with the rotation of theflywheel 43, so the swinging uncertainty of the pedal 30 in revolutioncould be eliminated, such that the pedal 30 could swing smoothly via theinertia of its swinging path. Furthermore, the user with poorerequilibrium could easily control the pedal for training, avoidingpossible injury from fall down due to loss of equilibrium, and alsomeeting the training demands of various users with improved security,convenience and practical value.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, the axial direction of the second couplingportion 22 of the crank component 20 is perpendicular in relation to theground level, so the pedal 30 is transversely assembled in relation tothe second coupling portion 22. Or, referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, theaxial direction of the second coupling portion 22 is oblique in relationto the ground level, so the pedal 30 is obliquely assembled in relationto the second coupling portion 22. Of which, when the axial direction ofthe second coupling portion 22 is oblique in relation to the groundlevel, the pedal 30 could swing in multiple directions in revolution orautorotation by the linking of the second coupling portion 22 and thepedal 30 (indicated by arrow L2 in FIG. 6).

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, at least an elastic auxiliary member 50 isset between the pedal 30 and chassis 10. Both ends of said elasticauxiliary member 50 are separately linked to the chassis 10 and pedal30, allowing to limit the pedal 30 for only proper autorotation. Duringrevolution of the pedal 30, the swinging stability and security of thepedal 30 could be improved by the auxiliary pulling action of theelastic auxiliary member 50. Further, the elastic auxiliary member 50 ispreferably implemented by or not limited to either of elastic rope,spring or elastic rod.

Referring to FIG. 7, a soft gasket 60 is covered onto the surface of thepedal 30. Said soft gasket 60 is made of rubber, silica gel or softplastics, or even latex or leather, etc. In addition, massage bulges 61can be set on the surface of the soft gasket 60, generating a massageeffect when the user stands on the pedal 30 for equilibrium training. Onthe other hand, the pedal 30 of the present invention could be designedinto an arced pattern, so that when the pedal 30 swings in a transversecircular revolution, the users are allowed for surfing-like equilibriumtraining activities, so as to improve the diversification in operation.

1. An equilibrium training device comprising: a chassis, defined into apreset seating pattern to form at least a plurality of seating portions;and a pin joint portion is additionally arranged on the preset locationof the chassis; a crank component, comprising of a first couplingportion and a second coupling portion in displaced configuration; ofwhich the first coupling portion is pivoted onto the pin joint portionof the chassis, such that the second coupling portion could swing bytaking the first coupling portion as the rotary pivot; a pedal, pivotedonto the second coupling portion of the crank component; based on theconnection between the second coupling portion and the pedal, the pedalcan swing in a transverse circular revolution by at least taking thefirst coupling portion as the rotary pivot, or swing in an autorotationmotion by at least taking the second coupling portion as the rotarypivot; a revolving inertia auxiliary roller set, set between the chassisand pedal, comprising of at least a first roller, a second roller, aflywheel and a belt wound between the first and second rollers; of whichthe first roller and the first coupling portion of the crank componentare assembled coaxially; of which the second roller is pivoted onto thechassis at one side of the first roller, while the flywheel and thesecond roller are assembled coaxially; when the first roller is rotated,the belt is linked with the second roller and flywheel, so the belt andthe first/second rollers are pulled together with the rotation of theflywheel, and the swinging path of the pedal is of inertia; when theuser stands on the pedal to train their equilibrium sense, the swinginguncertainty of the pedal could be eliminated due to the inertia swingingpath of the pedal, thus avoiding possible falls and improving thesecurity and convenience in operation.
 2. The device defined in claim 1,wherein the axial direction of the second coupling portion of the crankcomponent is perpendicular or oblique in relation to the ground level,so the pedal is transversely or obliquely assembled in relation to thesecond coupling portion; of which, when the axial direction of thesecond coupling portion is oblique in relation to the ground level, thepedal could swing in multiple directions in revolution or autorotationby the linking of the second coupling portion and the pedal.
 3. Thedevice defined in claim 1, wherein at least an elastic auxiliary memberis set between the pedal and chassis; both ends of said elasticauxiliary member are separately linked to the chassis and pedal,allowing to limit the pedal for only proper autorotation, duringrevolution of the pedal, the swinging stability and security of thepedal could be improved by the auxiliary pulling action of the elasticauxiliary member; of which, the elastic auxiliary member is preferablyimplemented by or not limited to either of elastic rope, spring orelastic rod.
 4. The device defined in claim 3, wherein a soft gasket iscovered onto the surface of the pedal; said soft gasket is made ofrubber, silica gel or soft plastics.
 5. The device defined in claim 4,wherein said pedal has an arced pattern, so that when the pedal swingsin a transverse circular revolution, the users are allowed forsurfing-like equilibrium training activities.